'''Basque''' (Basque: ''Euskara'') is a language spoken in the [[Basque Country]] (Gipuzkoa, Araba, Bizkaia) and [[Navarra]] (all of them in [[Spain]]) as well as in French [[Basque Country]] (Labourd, Soule and Basse – Navarre), and a few remote outposts such as [[Saint-Pierre and Miquelon]]. It's something of a linguistic curiosity, as it has no close relatives among other European languages. The language was long suppressed by national governments in France and Spain, but in the 20th century it reemerged as a living language, partly as a political statement for Basque independence.

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'''Basque''' (Basque: ''Euskara'') is a language spoken in the [[Basque Country]] (Gipuzkoa, Araba, Bizkaia) and [[Navarra]] (all of them in [[Spain]]) as well as in French [[Basque Country]] (Labourd, Soule and Basse – Navarre). As a language isolate, it is something of a linguistic curiosity, as it has no relatives among other European languages and indeed among any language at all. The language was long suppressed by national governments in France and Spain; but in the 20th century, it reemerged as a living language, partly as a political statement for Basque independence.

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You will most probably not need to learn Basque for your trip, as most Basque speakers on the Spanish side of the border also speak [[Spanish phrasebook|Spanish]] fluently, while those on the French side of the border are generally fluent in [[French phrasebook|French]] as well. Nevertheless, attempts to do so will generally be met with warm smiles and encouragement from the locals.

==Pronunciation Guide==

==Pronunciation Guide==

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; Who are you? : Nor zara zu?

; Who are you? : Nor zara zu?

; I am ______ . : Ni ______ naiz.

; I am ______ . : Ni ______ naiz.

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; What is your name? : Nola duzu izena?

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; My name is _____. : Nire izena ____ da.

; Nice to meet you. : Pozten naiz zu ezagutzeaz.

; Nice to meet you. : Pozten naiz zu ezagutzeaz.

; Please. : Mesedez.

; Please. : Mesedez.

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; Where is the toilet? : Non dago komuna?

; Where is the toilet? : Non dago komuna?

; Where is __________? : Non dago ______?

; Where is __________? : Non dago ______?

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===Problems===

===Problems===

; Leave me alone. : Utzi pakean. (''...'')

; Leave me alone. : Utzi pakean. (''...'')

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; afternoon : arratsalde (''...'')

; afternoon : arratsalde (''...'')

; night : gaua (''...'')

; night : gaua (''...'')

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; midday: eguerdia

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; midnight: gauerdia

====Clock time====

====Clock time====

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; two o'clock AM : goizeko ordu biak (''...'')

; two o'clock AM : goizeko ordu biak (''...'')

; noon : eguerdia (''...'')

; noon : eguerdia (''...'')

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; one o'clock PM : eguerdiko orudu bata (''...'')

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; one o'clock PM : eguerdiko ordu bata (''...'')

; two o'clock PM : arratsaldeko ordu biak (''...'')

; two o'clock PM : arratsaldeko ordu biak (''...'')

; midnight : gauerdi(''...'')

; midnight : gauerdi(''...'')

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====Writing Time and Date====

====Writing Time and Date====

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Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Revision as of 02:05, 15 October 2012

Basque (Basque: Euskara) is a language spoken in the Basque Country (Gipuzkoa, Araba, Bizkaia) and Navarra (all of them in Spain) as well as in French Basque Country (Labourd, Soule and Basse – Navarre). As a language isolate, it is something of a linguistic curiosity, as it has no relatives among other European languages and indeed among any language at all. The language was long suppressed by national governments in France and Spain; but in the 20th century, it reemerged as a living language, partly as a political statement for Basque independence.

You will most probably not need to learn Basque for your trip, as most Basque speakers on the Spanish side of the border also speak Spanish fluently, while those on the French side of the border are generally fluent in French as well. Nevertheless, attempts to do so will generally be met with warm smiles and encouragement from the locals.